So here I am, “between dogs”. It has been a while since my beloved Airedale “Cuno”, my partner and best friend, passed on. And with the move to Manassas and buying our new home, months have passed with me too busy for a puppy. I haven’t been well. The last time I didn’t have a dog it was 1994…. I keep feeling like I forgot something or didn’t do something or left the stove on. Empty inside. Nothing in the world has been right!
But now is the time! I am finally getting a PUPPY!
I decided to write about how a trainer goes about getting a new puppy because I think you may find it interesting. Knowing about all that could go wrong genetically and a the breeder’s, we are control freaks, when it comes to picking a puppy for our-selves. It comes with experience. But it’s not just that. While most people just need a good pet that fits their family, we need a good pet that fits our family but is also a striking dog that will call attention to us, one that is braver and more adaptable that most, in order to accompany us in as many different places as possible, a dog with “work ethic” who won’t tire or get bored easily, a dog that loves to please, learn new things and show off, a dog with self control that thinks before reacting to bad situations and will put his handler first, a strong and healthy dog that will be able to happily work for a long time and a dog that can do a few sports and get good titles to his name.
It’s a lot I now. But after you’ve met and owned a few dogs like that, it’s very hard settle for less. I mean you can settle for less, if you absolutely have to when you are out of luck but you sure aren’t going to leave your puppy selection to chance and just hope for the best. So how does one begin to search for that elusive “perfect pup”, if this isn’t their first rodeo?
Magic Mountain K9 